Banjo



Nov. 15, 1927. 1,649,l01

J. DoPYERA BANJO Patented Nov. 15, 1927.

UNITED ,srATEs Jonu *norynna or TAFT, CLIFQRNIA.

BANJO.

1./ i v, Application filed December 12, 1923. Serial No. 680,145.

This invention relates to banjos, and the main object is to `provide auimproved type of musical instrument` in the form of a banjo having meansfor improving and substantially amplfying the tone produced by theinstrument by the provision of a reso- `natorv suitably supported on thebottom of 'the instrument, so as to take up the vibrat`i`on,,togetherwith means for enclosing the resonator in order to prevent the samecorning in contact with other things while the 'instrument is beingplayed.

, Another object is to provide a banjo comprising a band for supportingVa skin of usual` character, and a metallic covering on the opposite sideof the band from the skin serving as a support for and enclosing a:metallic resonator adjustably mounted `for amplifying and substantiallyimproving the tone of the instrument.

Still another object consists-in means pro- -vided for -supporting theresonator on the band/by the utilization of the usual skin holdingdevices whereby the ries'onatorand the cover may be detachably held inposition.

. Other `objects will appear as the description progresses.l` g

` I have shown in the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment of myinvention, subject to modification within the v scope of the appendedclaiins without departing from the spirit thereof, in which:

. Fig; ljis a composite plan view of my device, the upper portion of.which is a top plan, the lower portion a bottom plan, and ``theintermediate, portion a sectional plan.

j Fig. 2 is' aside view of the same, partly in section. 40j ,,Fig 3 is aperspective view of one of the iolding devices for detachably supportingti the resonator and cover on the band.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section of the f cover, showing a modifiedstructure.

In the consideration of this invention it will be understood that myimprovements are adapted to be attached to a modern type of banjo, orthe same may be built into new instruments as may be desired.

In the drawings I have shown a, well t known type of instrument whichincludes the usual supporting band B, usually made of wood and overV theupper edge of which a i. skin S is firmly attached and held taut bymeans of a plurality of adjusting screws A,

A, etc. The outer edges of the skin S are usually wrapped around anannular band b and are thence turned upwardly against the lnner' side ofa substantially wider annular band b' whichencompasses the main band B.The bandb is thus held underneath the larger band b', and both of saidbandsV are drawn downwardly with the edge portion of theskin S by meansof the adjusting screws A, A, which have their upper ends e, e, etc.,formed into hooks which'overlie the upper edge of the band b'.

The lower ends of the screws A, A carry adjusting nuts N, N, etc., bymeans of which the skin is adjusted over the edge of the band B. ThescrewsA, A, etc., are threaded at their lower ends to receive the nutsN, N, etc., andv above said nuts they extend through lugs p L, L, etc.,which are supported on the outer side of the band B and are held againstVertical movement thereon by means of screws Z, Z, etc., which havetheir heads on the inner side of band B and Vare threaded at :theirvouter ends into thel lugs.

Theparts hereinbefore Inentioned are ein- `Vbodied si'ibstantially inthe relations stated in banjos now in Vogue, and tol said parts I applymy improvements in the manner hereinafter stated.

Said improvements consist of two main members, namely, a cover C whichis of.

substantially greater diameter than the band B and which is adapt-ed toreceive and adjustably support a resonator R. The cover C is of thinsheet metal and has its edge portions rolled as at 2 into a hollow headencompassinglthe lower portion of band B and terminat-ing in an annula-rportion 3,

the inner edge of which is spaced from the band B.

The central portion of the cover C under-` lies and is substantiallyspaced from the lower edge of the band B, and said cover is adapted tobe detachably held on said band by means of a pluralit-y of clips 4, Li,etc., which are of Z cross section and have horizontal portions 5 withapertures 6 thcrein, through which the lower ends of the screws A` areadapted to be inserted at a point above the nuts N. Said clips also havecontinuing Vertical portions 7 and horizontal extensions 8 extendedoutwardly therefrom.

'The portions 8 are adapted to overlie the annular fiat portion 3 ofcover C, and are provided with apertures therein similar to theapertures 6 in the portion 5, which are adapted to receive pins 9riveted to the portion 3 of the cover. Portion 8 of the. clips 4 alsocarry on the upper sides thereof locking members 10 which are riveted at11 to the clips and are adapted to be frictionally held in slots 11'formed in the peripheries of the pins 9 for retaining the cover inoperative position on the banjo. The looking members 10 have Verticalextensions 10l on the outer ends thereof by means of which said membersmay be operated for looking and unlocking the cover. l

It will be noted that the cover C is provided with one or more series ofa-pertures as at 12, 12, etc., which are arranged in ornamental andgeometrieal form, and additionally serve to provide means whereby thevibrations from the interior of the instrument may have free egress.

The outer side of the cover C in the center is provided with a concaveportion 13 which receives the head 14 of an adjust-ing screw 1.5. Saidscrew has a reduced extension 16 which is threaded into the head 14; andwhich is reversely threaded from the steni 15 of the screw. Intermediatethe portions 15 and 16 said screw has an enlarged shoulder 17 whichengages the central portion 18 of the cover and is also provided With av portion 16' held in the opening of the cover.

On the interior of the portion 19 of the resonator a eoncave reinforcingmember 20 is welded for providing additional thickness at this point toreceive the screw 15.

The screw 15 carries a coil spring 22 therearound which is adapted tocompress between the portion 17 of the screw and the portion 19 of theresonator, and the ends 23 and 24, respectively, of said spring arepreferably held in openings in the portions 19 and 18 respectively ofthe resonator and the cover, so as to prevent the dislodgement of thespring.

The resonator is substantially of the same diameter of the body band B,or larger if desirable, and as shown in the drawngs, it will be notedthatthe resonator is at all times held in spaced relation from the bandB and may be adjusted relative to the cover C. By means of the adjustinghead 14,

the screw 15 may be turned for adjusting the resonator relative to thecover C, for the purpose of regulating the tone. The screw also servesto support the resonator resiliently in position and in such a mannerthat the same may be readily attached and detached at will.

Cover C is provided with an annular shoulder C' which underlies theouter portion of resonator R so that the edge of the resonator may restupon said shoulder, as shown in Fig. 2. Thus, the adjusting screw 15 maybe operated for adjusting the tension of the resonator against the coverfor regulating the tone of the instrument, or if desirable the resonatormay be adjusted so as to completely disengage from the cover. In eithercase the spring 23 serves as a cushon for the resonator so as to holdthe same spaced from the cover to a desired extent, and thus preventsthe rattling of the resonator against the cover due to the vibrationsset up when the instrument is being played. The tone vibrations havefree egress through the apertures 21 on the upper portion 3 of thecover. WVhen the instrument is assembled the clips are placed on thelugs L and underneath the nuts N, whereupon the skin S is tightened toa. sufficient extent, and thereafter the cover is snapped into positionunder the port-ions 8 of the clips and locked by means of the lookingmembers 10.

It will be obvious that the number of the screws A is immaterial andthat this number may be more or less than that shown, also that it isunnecessary to support the cover C on the band' B at a great number ofpoints. Usually only three or four points of suspension Will benecessary for effectively holding the cover and resonator in position onthe. band B, so that the clips 4 provided for holding the cover inposition will necessarily be provided only for a desired number ofscrews A which are to be utilized.

lVhat I claim is:

1. A banjo having a eircular body portion, a skin closing one edgethereof, a metallic resonator supported in spaced relation from theopposite edge thereof, and a metallie cover forming a support for saidresonator and detachably held on the exterior of said body portion, saidcover having a diameter substantially larger than said body.

2. A banjo having a circular body portion, a skin closing one edgethereof, a metallie resonator adjustably and detachably supported on andspaced from the opposite edge thereof, and a metallic cove1` forming asupport for said resonator and detachably held ou the exterior of saidbody portion, said resonator being substantially of the diameter of saidbody portion, and said cover being of greater diameter than saidresonator and said body. i

3. A banjo comprising an annular, body member, a skin stretched over oneside thereof, an integral metallic cover attached to and substantiallylarger in diameter than said body, forming a back spaced 'from saidbody, and a metallic resonator overlying the body and mounted at asingle central point on said cover, as described.

4:. A banjo including an annular body portion, a membrane drawn over oneside of said body, an integrally formed metallic cover closing the otherside of and spaced from the' edge of said body, and a metallic resonatormounted on said cover at a central point and disconnected from saidbody.

5. A banjo including an annular body portion, a membrane drawn over oneside of said body, an integrally formed metallic cover closing the otherside of and spaced 5 from the edge of said body, a metallic resonatormounted on said. cover at a central point and disconnected from saidbody, and means for adjusting said resonator.

6. A banjo comprising an annular body 10 member, a membrane drawn overone edge thereof, an integrally formed metallic cover comprising a riniportion of arcuate cross section, detachably supported on and extendingoutwardly from and around said body, a central web portion forming aback spaced from said bodv portion. and a sheet mefal resonatoradjustably mounted at a central point on said cover andnhaving its edgedisconneeted from the body.

. JOHN DOPYERA.

